United 3 Liverpool 0: Fergie's happy send off continues as Cole hat-trick sends U21s through to Premier League final

By Graham Chase

PUBLISHED: 16:10 EST, 14 May 2013 | UPDATED: 06:54 EST, 15 May 2013

With Sir Alex Ferguson looking on from what will soon be his familiar seat in the Old Trafford directors’ box, Manchester United’s youngsters won through to the final of the Under 21 Premier League with a typically ill-tempered victory over bitter rivals Liverpool.

Winger Larnell Cole converted two first-half penalties and thumped in a third goal in the second period to earn a place in Monday’s final against Tottenham, with Liverpool’s Jon Flanagan sent off for kicking the ball at Adnan Januzaj.

Even at this level, this fixture has been marred by fan trouble and violent antics on the field in recent years and that spikiness continued, with no shortage of meaty challenges and angry confrontations.

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Hat-trick hero: Larnell Cole (second left) was far too good for Liverpool on the night

Hat-trick hero: Larnell Cole (second left) was far too good for Liverpool on the night

MATCH FACTS

Manchester United: Amos; Vermijl, Thorpe, Keane, James; Cole (Sutherland 83), Ekangamene, Tunnicliffe, Lingard; Januzaj (Pereira 79); Lawrence (Pearson 76)

Subs not used: Grimshaw, Wilson, Pearson.
Booked: Januzaj, Pereira

Goals: Cole (3)

Liverpool: Ward; Flanagan, Sama (Lussey 85), Jones, Robinson; Petersson (Dunn 71), Coady, Texeira, Ibe; Adorjan, Morgan (Bijev 83)

Subs not used: Fulton, Nacho

Booked: Jones.

Sent off: Flanagan.

Cole, 20, who featured in the League Cup against Leeds last season, said: 'There’s the rivalry so there will always be tackles flying in but we just have to ride it and play our own game and we’re through to the final. It’s a good feeling.'

With 2,750 in the stadium, it was an occasion that had little in common with Ferguson’s send off at the 2-1 win over Swansea on Sunday or Monday’s parade.

But it is hard to imagine Ferguson being dissatisfied with any win over the club he famously vowed to knock off its perch on his arrival at Old Trafford in 1986.

The usual barbs were traded between the two sets of fans, as well as Liverpool supporters welcoming the next United manager with chants of ‘David Moyes is a football genius’.

Only on Sunday, QPR manager Harry Redknapp claimed that referees are afraid of upsetting Ferguson.

And there are those that will mutter darkly about referee Michael Walsh awarding the hosts two spot-kicks in the space of seven first-half minutes but the official had little choice but to punish the visitors’ clumsiness.

Easing into retirement: Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton were present at Old Trafford

Easing into retirement: Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton were present at Old Trafford

Intense: United's Reece James and Liverpool's Adam Morgan show how seriously the clubs' rivalry is taken

Intense: United's Reece James and Liverpool's Adam Morgan show how seriously the clubs' rivalry is taken

The first opening came when Belgian midfielder Januzaj, 18, who lived up to fulsome praise from Ferguson last month, guided a pass through for Tom Lawrence.

The striker was sent tumbling by an unnecessary barge from Stephen Sama, who was sent off in the 1-1 draw between the two teams last week.

Cole sent Daniel Ward the wrong way from the spot and seven minutes later he did exactly the same after Jon Flanagan shoved into Lawrence’s back.

As the visitors looked for a response before the break Adam Morgan sliced wide after Conor Coady won the ball in midfield with a challenge on Tom Thorpe that United felt should have resulted in a red card.

But after Liverpool failed to clear Januzaj’s corner midway through the second half, Cole drove in a third from the edge of the area before Flanagan was shown a straight red for kicking the ball at Januzaj when the Belgian was lying on the ground.

Ferguson departed soon afterwards with a smile on his face.

Too strong:l Cole holds off Liverpool's Krisztian Adorjan

Too strong:l Cole holds off Liverpool's Krisztian Adorjan

Composed: Cole twice scored from the penalty spot en route to victory

Composed: Cole twice scored from the penalty spot en route to victory

 

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and they play spurs in the final. COYS!

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We have played United 3 times at this level this season. In the first game nothing was happening at 0-0 until we had a player sent off, and united got a winner in the 4th minute of stoppage time. 2 weeks ago we were 1-0 up and then had a player sent off, and only conceeded a late equaliser. 2 penalties and a red card in one game last night. The referees even at that level are biased towards United, and it will not change until an investigation is done along the lines of what happened with Juventus in Italy. - j2kenny , Liverpool, 15/5/2013 12:49 Perhaps a look at the Liverpool players attitude may be needed if three are sent off in three games rather than claim the ref is always against your team.

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Ravi @ Belfast What a hypocrite lol, here we have a user complaining about 2 penalties and then states 'who gives a toss', obviously you if you are commenting, as for John Bailey, whole new level of bitterness and just an idiot..

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"The Referee had a great game for Man Hoof Yoof and will surely receive a promotion to the Premier league, the obligatory Penalty head start, another a short time later and then followed up with the obligatory Red card for a Liverpool player to make it 12 v 10 - like in the same fixture last week. - John Bailey, England, United Kingdom" - - - --- > Good job Liverpool has fans like you because they will never blame themselves ergo. never make it back to the champions league. Nice one thanks.

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both garbage teams coys!

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LFC chose this game to put on their worst U21s show of the season but were certainly not helped by some shocking decisions by a FAT ref who gave United everything. Apart from the last goal, the Liverpool keeper didn't have one save to make. Both teams have lots of talent and United are a good outfit who performed quite well last night. Liverpool have some future stars but did not turn up. They also have a horrific injury schedule to their best U21s and had to field some U18's kids like Jack Dunn. Btw, the sending off was deserved...but somehow I think that if it had been a Manu player it would have been a booking, based on last night's decisions.

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"I haven't even heard of any of your youth players i wonder why?" - Welbeck, Evans, Fletcher, Cleverley, Giggs, Scholes...

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I was watching the match and the referee was spot on Flanagan is the worse footballer ever

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Game aside, what about that ref he got tired worn out just blowing his whistle for kickoff he was so far behind the play it was embarrasing I thought he was a cert for heart attack , he was just so far behind play so out of position all his decisions were guess work it amazes me how utd get so much help from refs even at this level something just isn't right .

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Im loving the under 21 league - have been to all evertons home games and its great to see the lads who are ready to move from youth to full teams!

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